St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-19

SSaS the rules of the
SNL United States, who
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81 az are ass e IN b ] e d
Is there. 1t was a
az knowledge of this
III fact that induced
L the GLoBE'S repre-
4 sentative TO endeav-
In or to draw pen
IN u Il picture for t h e
VIM q Northwestern con
WHsa tingent of readers
"fe< conccr n ing the
president and cabinet, particularly as
regards the manner of working and the
convenienceS that they have for admin
lSterlng the affairs of the greatest nation
Oh the earth. All the details of the sit
uatl0nS and interior arrangements OF
the offices are derived from per-
Sonal and searching examination, and
may be accepted as absolutely correct.
Naturally the first in order is the PreS-
dent as he sits in the library of the
White house, a large oval room on the
ground floor of the Executive mansion,
overlooking the hills of Maryland and
Virginia, the Potomac river and Airing
ton, the former home of Robert e. Lee.
The presidents desk is q massive Hat
piece of furniture, which has an inter-
eSting history.
In the early days of Attic explorations
the British government sent out vessel
called the ReSolute on voyage of dis
cOvery. Unfortunately for the cause of
science, the ReSolute was caught in an
ice pack and her officers and crew were
forced to abandon her. But her timberS
were stout enough to bear the strain
skipper, prospecting in the frozen re-
gions of the North, discovered the
abandoned vessel drifting at the
mercy of wind and tide and
towed her safe into snug harbOr.
Through the courtesy of the United
States government the Resolute was re-
stored to Great Britain, and this was
suitably recognized years after. when
the good ship was diSmantied and
broken up. Out of some of the remains
of her oaken jOiStS handsome desk
was constructed, and with plate suita-
bly, Inscribed, this piece of furniture
was presented to the president of the
United States by Queen Victoria. For
years it has been cherished object at
the White house, and many presidents
have Illuminated doctrines Oh its ca
paciOuS top, as solid as the sturdy oak
from which it originated. The desk is
arranged so that the occupant of the
chair faces the door leading into the
library from the large hall on the
second floor, and his back is turned to
the splendid panorama presented ON the
south of the White house.
HERE THE PRESIDENT RECEIVES CALL
Frs
After they have undergone the scrutiny
of the vigilant dOOrkeeper and private
secretary, an entrance being usually
effected through the cabinet room, on
the right of the executive.
Leaving the White house and going
due west, the visitor is rewarded with
sight of the magnificent granite pile in
which the business of the state, navy
and war departments is transacted.
They are given in the order arranged,
the secretary OF state, as premier, COM
ing first, and his quarters, like those of
the president, command the same view,
being located in the south wing of the
structure. Secretary Bayard sits facing
the west, with his back to the east. at a
handsome mahogany, clOth-top desk,
which abOunds with numerous drawers
and pigeon-holeS. Invariably, when
talking to caller Or tranSacting
the business of his department, the
secretary sits at this desk and opposite
him is his private secretary and stenog-
rapher. Down the corridor of the east
front of the building and about midway
the structure is the Office of the sccre-
tary of the navy, who under the present
administration is the most accessible
member of the cabinet.
A swinging door leads from the room
of the chief clerk into the apartment of
Secretary Whitney, who in nine cases
out OF ten will be found standing at his
walnut desk signing letters or giving
instructions to his Stenographer. An
attachment placed OH top of the broad
desk permits this position, and it
is found more comfortable by the secre-
tary than sitting would be. In fact. he
is the only secretary that enjoys this
luxury and he found that his predeces-
sOr, ex-secretary now senator. William
Z. Chandler, of New Hampshire, had
put the continuance into use
and was thus enabled to do his
work more satisfactorily and easier.
Secretary Whitney's back is to the
north, and by looking over his left
shoulder he can obtain a view of the
private office of the president few
hundred feet to the eastward Secre-
tary Endicott' Office is in the north
wing of the building. facing Pennsyl-
wanna avenue, with the Corcoran art
gallery and Lafayette square within
stones throw. The same style of desk
and of the same material as those used
by the secretaries of state and navy is
noticed i'll this room, and the head of
the war department looks south, while
his back is turned toward the avenue.
Looking TO the right of these depart
me4lts noted above, there is an imposing
structure on the north side of the ave-
nue., of Seneca brown stone, which was
formerly the Freedman's bank, but
| now the property of the government,
and known as the depai tment of Justice.
Attorney General Garland has his office
Oh the second floor, and when he assumed
control after the departure of Attorney
General Brewster he found a most
Sumptuously appointed room awaiting
him, probably the handSomeSt office at
the capitol. From the windows looking
south is the north wing of the treasury
department, and towering to the skies
probably quarter of q mile away in the
same direction is the marble shaft
erected to the
MEMORY OF TIE FATHER OF HIS
COUNTRY.
The attorney general has his back to
the east and faces west, the desk at
which he carries on. business being
handsome mahogany one, thanked OIL all
sides by Turkish rugs of the most ex-
quisite patterns. 1t is but few PAGES
across the avenue to the treasury. but
one must traverse a long corridor on The
second floor to reach the room of Secre-
tary Fairchild, the successor of Secre-
tary Manning under the present admin
istration. This apartment is i'm
the southwest angle of the south
wing of the department., and from